Adlai E Stevenson High School District 125 placed on financial "Recognition" list by state board of education

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has placed Adlai E Stevenson High School District 125 on its financial "Recognition" list.

ISBE rates school districts on their fund balance and expenditure-to-revenue ratios, days of cash on hand, and percentage of remaining short- and long-term borrowing ability.

Of Illinois' 852 school districts, 632, or 74 percent, earned the state's "Financial Recognition" designation, suggesting they are fiscally sound.

The other 26 percent statewide, of 220 districts, received lower marks from ISBE, suggesting they need work:

154 (18 percent) are under "Financial Review"

47 (6 percent) were given an "Early Warning"

19 (2 percent) are under "Financial Watch", including Chicago Public Schools and seven others in the Metro-East.

In Lake County, 35 of the county's 43 school districts (81 percent) earned the "Financial Recognition" designation.

Big Hollow School District 38 was the only district placed under "Early Warning."

6 districts -- Gavin School District 37, Warren Township High School District 121, Oak Grove School District 68, Beach Park Community Consolidated School District 3, Gurnee School District 56, Round Lake Community Unit School District 116 -- were placed under "Financial Review."

Millburn Community Consolidated School District 24 was the only district placed under "Financial Watch."

Schools are "continuing to break even or are spending more than they are realizing in revenue," the report says.

Illinois public school districts issued $307.2 million in long-term debt in fiscal year 2015 versus $356.5 million in fiscal year 2014. In 2015, 499 -- or 58 percent-- spent more money than they took in, borrowing or using taxpayer-provided reserves to cover the deficit.

ISBE's "School District Financial Profile" was first issued in 2003.

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